“I picked up a weird vibe when I mentioned being careful because Hazel was here. You cooled off so fast that I wondered if you resented her being a factor between us.”

He set the pan on the drying rack before turning and taking her hands in his. “I never meant to suggest that she’s between us like that. It’s hard for me to keep this a big, dark secret. That’s not my style. But I can be frustrated and still understand completely why you need it to be this way.”

She stared at him for a moment, and he lightly ran his hands up and down her arms, somehow knowing she needed his soothing touch. She hadn’t really considered how much their secret was weighing on him.

“I’d love for us to not have to sneak around and tell all these little white lies to the people we care about. But I need to do the right thing as a mom. That’s who I am first.” She rested her hands on his chest. “It’s hard, turning those switches on and off—friend, lover, mom. I want it all, but having it all is...impossible right now.”

Before he could respond, they heard Vickie calling out loudly from the dining room. “Oh, Hazel honey, if you’re going into the kitchen, could you take these dessert plates with you?”

Zoey and Mike jumped away from each other and scurried to get busy. He started drying the pans all over again, while she wiped down the sink with the sponge. A minute later Hazel came in, Gavin propped on one hip and her other hand holding a tilting pile of small paper plates and napkins. Zoey hurried to take the plates, tossing them out.

“Thanks, Mom.” Hazel laughed. “Vickie was bound and determined that I had to stop and collect every plate on the table before I came in here. All I wanted was to get a glass of juice for this little guy and say goodbye.”

Zoey nodded, ignoring the catch in her throat. The worst part of divorce by far was the bargaining over their daughter’s time. But it was Father’s Day, so of course Hazel should spend time with Chris.

“Your dad’s picking you up here, right?”

“He’s picking me up in five. You sure it’s okay for me to stay there for a couple of days?”

“Of course it’s okay.” Zoey filled a sippy cup with juice and handed it to Gavin, who grabbed at it with a big grin. “You should be with your dad on Father’s Day. And school’s out, so staying until Wednesday morning is fine—just don’t forget you’re working for Mary for four hours on Tuesday. What are you planning to do with your father?”